Media views on Spurs, Kings, Mavericks and injuries

Jason Hart didn’t have to be in the San Antonio locker room to know what was going on inside it, according to Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee. The Kings’ point guard spent two seasons playing under Gregg Popovich. And if the Kings’ 97-87 upset of the best in the West didn’t rock the home team in their own AT&T Center, the Spurs’ coach surely would.

If Ron Artest is crying foul about defense, something must be awry. And while the Kings’ small forward clarified that he and Bruce Bowen remain on good terms, he said Bowen’s tactics were nothing short of bad play, again from Amick of the Sacramento Bee.

The drive for homecourt advantage in the Western Conference takes a turn through San Antonio on Friday night when the Spurs host the Mavericks, according to former NBA coach Bill Fitch for NBA.com. Both teams are coming off games against Sacramento with differing outcomes.

Lost in the Spurs’ battle to stay on the Pistons’ heels all season has been that Tim Duncan has fought plantar fasciitis all season; Manu Ginobili has had various foot and ankle problems, and now Tony Parker is struggling with a sprained ankle, according to Mike Kahn for FOXSports.com.